SPORTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7270, 7 March 1885, Page 6

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES. March 17 andU-Bawkes" Bay J. C. Autumn Meetb* MareH2s-R*mont liaelns Club's MeeUng. Ma ch 86 and 27—Tumki Jockey Club ■ Mertto^. »Urch 27--Warkeorth Kacee. Apr 1 6 a«d 7-Auckland E.C. Autumn Meeting. April Takapuna J. C. Autumn Meeting. May 24—Takapuna J. C. Winter Meeting. AUSTRALIA. Feb 28, M»rch 5 and V.B.C. Autumn Meeting. March 20 and 28— Hawkesbury R.C. Autumn Meeting. April C B,lo.ll—Australian J.C. Autumn Meeting. DATES OP NOMINATIONS AND ACCEPTANCES. March Iβ— Acceptances and general entries for Koithern Jockey Club'i Meeting. March 23- Last forfeit for Auckland Easter Handicap and Steeplechase and general entries. April 19—Nominations for Great fiortbern St. I.ejrer. March 13-dominations for Onehunga Cap, Huidle*, and Kail way Handicap March Acceptance* and general entries, Onehunga Races. '. March 13 General entries and acceptances, Henderson's Mill Meeting ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. Commotion and First King each won the Champion Stakes in smin. 26secs. ; Lβ Grand's time was half a second longer. F.C.— T. Hales has ridden the winner of the V.B.C. Derby on three occasions viz., Brlseis, Grand Flaneur, and Navigator. Grand Flaneur ia the only winner of the Melbourne Cup be has ridden. B.E.F -Eα A rant, dam of Vanguard, was got by Lord Lyon, out of L»dy Mary,,by Orlando. Wahato.—F. MHUbewsandG. WilHams have each ridden the winner of the Auckland Cap on two occasions. W.M.—Welcome Jack started for the Auckland Cup in 1883. Ranoiaokia.— was destroyed about eight months ago. _____ NOTES BY PHAETON. The Wanganoi Cup, run yesterday, resulted in a moat complete upset of the pot, neither Leonora or Fasileer, the favourites, succeeding in gaining placed honours; while the winner turned up in the little tbonght-of Speculation, who got home half a length in front of Bayard, Sir Bedevere being third. Speculation has always been voted a pretty good sprinter, but when it came to a twomile and a quarter journey many indeed shook their heads when considering her ability to win a race of that description. However, the daughter of Hippocampus has shown us that the loag journey was not by any means outside her tether, and her performance is full of merit, for she got the two miles and a quarter in the excellent time of 4mins. 7|eecs. Speculation, who will perhaps be best known to my readers as Hippodamia, was bred in Auckland by the late Mr. Walters, and was got by Hippocampus out of Slander, by Traducer. The Australian Cup was run on Thursday last at Flemington, and resulted in a victory for that consistent performer Ringwood (7st lllbs), Sheet Anchor (7et 61bs) being second, and Stornoway (6at) third. The telegram announcing the result of the race does not tell as how many horses competed, so that we are left in doubt as to what composed the field. Coronet, the winner of the Newmarket Handicap, who had the feather impost of 6st 121bs, was made a staunch favourite, even money being laid on his ability to win ; but after flattering the hopes of his backers as far as the river he collapsed, and retired into the ruck beaten, Ringwood ran a great horse, and coming at the home turn he outstayed all his opponents, and after a great battle in the straight got home three parts of a length in front of Sheet Anchor in the splendid time of 4mins. which is exactly the same as in First Water's year, and only a second slower than Pollio's great performance of 1882. It will be remembered that last month Ringwood won the Hobart Cup in splendid style, and after that performance I drew attention to the great show he had in this race, pointing out that hie party last year backed him for a big stake for this same race, on whioh occasion he carried 2>bs. more than he was asked this year. wood is owned by Mr. .Norman Wilson, of Ballarat, and he would no doubt be heavily supported by his party, though the position he occupied in the betting on the day previous to the race might lead one to an opposite conclusion. The third day's racing of the Victoria Racing Club's Autumn Meeting takes place to-day, when the Champion Stakes will be decided. The death of Lβ Grand, and the withdrawal of Malua and MartiniHenry has robbed the great race of a good deal of interest, and at the time of writing it is difficult to see anything likely to lower the colours of old Commotion. The gallant old ■on of Panic is reported to be in great heart, and if he is beaten it will certainly have to be a fast run race. The field will probably be composed of the following :Commotion, ■ The Plunger, Off Colour, Fryingpan, David, and Silver King. Apropos of Silver King, "Vigilant" considered him good enough to win the treble— Cup, and Champion. The final payment for the Napier Handicap and Railway Stakes, whioh are to be run at the Hawke's Bay Jockey Club Meeting on the 17th inet., came due on Tuesday last, but nothing of importance dropped out of either event, eleven horses still remaining in each race. There seems to be a consensus of opinion that Mr. Evitt dealt too leniently with Captain Russell's pair, Leonora and Tigredia, and the withdrawal of all the southern owned horses is assigned to that reason. The following are the horses left in the two races :— Napier Handicap of eoosors.; one mile and threeq.iartere. st lb st lb Leonora .. ..8 7 Pearl _ «. 7 0 Tigredia .. .. 712 Paeha _ .. 612 Fusilier .. ..7 6 Laird _ .. 6 12 Ugly Buck ..7 5 Clogs .. ..6 6 Forerunner.. ..7 5 Mangaohan* ...CO Libeller .. ..7 4 Railway Stakes of 150sovi; three-quarters of a mile. st lb '" st lb Ascot ... ..8 3 Talebearer .. ..7 4 Tigredia .. ..8 2 Slave .. ..7 4 Foiilier .. ...7 9 Christina .. ..7 2 Buck .. ..7 8 Pasha ... ..7 0 forerunner. . ..7 7 Waewaetika .. 6 4 Pe.rl .. .. 7 The success which has attended the stock of St. Albane this season in the big events of the Australasian turf is certainly phenomenal. His daughter, Blink Bonny, opened the season by appropriating the rich Coalfield Cup; then followed Malua's great victory in the Melbourne Cup ; and Ringwood, journeying to Tasmania, placed the Hobart Cup to the credit of his sire. At the V.R.C. Meeting this week, his son Coronet won the Newmarket Handicap from a field of thirty, and he also furnished the first and second horses for the Australian Cup in Ringwood and Sheet Anchor. In New Zealand we have had a taste of the excellence of the St. Abiane stock, for good .old Tasman on many occasions has done giant service for the honour of the Blair Athol horse. St. Albans last year topped the list as a winning sire, and he has now placed it beyond a doubt that he will again occupy the post of honour this sear, with a winning total of some thousands above hid rivals. St. Albans was imported from England by Mr. John Field, of Tasmania, but at the break up of that gentleman's stud about 18 months ago the son of Blair Athol passed into the hands of Mr. James Wilson, of Victoria, who secured him a real bargain at 900 guineas. It would, I think, take many thousands to induce Mr. Wilson to part with him now. It ie so long since anything was heard of Woodpecker that not a few were beginning to think that the son of Day Dawn must have shuffled off this mortal coil or been relegated to the shafts. On enquiry of his owner, Mr. Blaikie, I am told that the horse has been turned out at Kohimarama since he underwent firing, and will not be taken up until next season, so as to give his leg every chance of standing a preparation. The Onebunga Racing Club have fixed their Autumn meeting for Saturday, March 28. The programme consists of seven events, with ;in added money total of 255sovs. The principal event of the meeting is the Racing Club Handicap, of lOOsovs. Nominations are due on the 13th instant.

A case of "nobbling " has been engaging the attention of the racing authorities in Tasmania. It is alleged that while the Cap race was being ran, a horae called Tichborne who was engaged in the Ladies' Bracelet was quietly token off the course, a bran mash given him, and he was then led to a cottage half » mile from the course, where two buckets of water were given him, a bookmaker named Lamersse leading the horse, while Roger? administered the water. The horse was then led back to the course, but of course, was nowhere in the race. The stewards decided to disqualify both parties for ever on the Elwick course. Lamersse and Rogers were also arrested, and brought before the Police Court jn a charge of ct &• spiraoy, and attempting todefrand a iquattes.* named Henry Kermode of the sum of £45, and they have been remanded for a week on the charge.. ▲ great deal is heard at various times of the system * Poking jookey's mounts, bo n gland. Statistics go to

prove that the same, even in the cue of the most ■nccesafal jockeys, is net «o remunerative as would appear from the number of winning monnte recorded at the end of each succeeding season Ihe case of Archer and Wood, who were first and second on the list for last year, may be taken as a criterion. A carefal revision of Archer's performances proves tbat the investment of £10 on each mount would ahow a win of £3949 16e lid, against a loe« of £3360, thus leaving a balance of £58916e lid in favour of his backers. On the other hand, anybody who invested similarly on Wood's monnte, would be left a loser of £500 10s, so that there is not much in it one way or the other. There would always be a chance of losing heavily as against an uncertain prospect of winning, even by following the two most successful jockeys of the day. Tne spectacle presented by Lβ Grand on the Flemington training ground, on the occasion of his last gallop, was (e»ys " Vigilant ") really pitiful. After completing a steady gallop he pulled np so fearfully lame that he was with difficulty removed from the course, and hobbling on his toes, and apparently in terrible agony, last year's champion was led off the track by his owner, whose bad fortune we deplore most sincerely. What a wonderful difference a few months may effect in a horse's health. Last year Le Grand, as strong as a lion, finished second in the Newmarket Handicap, third in the Australian Gap, and wound up by winning the Champion ; to-day, looking an otter wreck, the great horse has broken down so badly that we are not likely to see him ever race again. |Le Grand has since died.] Both rivals (Martini and Le Grand) are now knocked out, and we question very much whether we had ascertained the length of the tether of either.

Writing on the Dunedin Cup, "Sir Launcelot" says:—"Considering that the race was run in the fastest time on record, Trenton's performance stamps him as one of the greatest colts we have ever seen, and his performance becomes all the more meritorious when the fact of his running in plates is taken into consideration."

A short time back, the English Jockey Club notified the trainer Gurry, who had entered into an engagement to train for Mr. " Abington" Baird, tbat they would withdraw hie license from training on Newmarket Heath so long as he continued to act for tne gentleman above named, Commenting on the affair, the London correspondent of the Melbourne Leader says : "The latest rumour in connection with this now famous case is to the effect that Baird intends to checkmate the Jockey Club by buying partof Newmarket Heath, and ' warning off' the Jockey Club. Absurd and Quixotic as this statement may appear, it is at least possible, if not probable. The part in question is the famous Limekilns gallop, which is the property of a Mr. Thorpe, to whom the J.C pay the merely nominal rental of 30s an acre. That gentleman is far from burdened with wealth, and very likely to accept a tempting offer. This the J.C, owing to their ridiculous purchase recently of the Exoing estate, are not in a position to give, while Mr. Baird is. His doing so would be bearding the lion in bis den with a vengeance, but the inevitable cut bono again crops up. To what would it all lead ? Mr. Baird would be no better off than ever, as the Jockey Club have only, to issue an order prohibiting all Mr. B.'s horses, or all horses trained on the Limekilns, from running at any meetings under their jurisdiction, and his house of cards would come down with a rattle. If Mr. ' Abington ' has any sense left he should accept the situation, sell off all his horses, and retire from the turf."

The Consul, it is said, has been turned oat, in consequence of indisposition brought on by his trials with Administrator when the roan was working np for the Wellington meetings. The Wairarapa folk (says " Martini") relate great things about the fall brother to the Gold Cup winner, each as that he can beat Administrator at level weights over a mile and a half. My own idea is that the coming crack of the stable is Gabble.

The question as to how much money could be obtained from the bookmakers against a Newmarket Handicap horse cropped up in discussion at the rooms the other night (says "Vigilant" iu the Melbourne Sportsman), and the general consensus of opinion was that the ring is good for £80,000 od a Newmarket Handicap, and £120,000 on a Melbourne Cap. The *ew York Spirit of the Times, of January 3, gives some interesting statistics of trotting record*, viz., a table of best times od record, at all distances, and " all ways of going," up to December 20, 1884. The best miles are quoted ;— Trotting in harness, Hand S., 2min. 9f <ec. ; trotting to waggon, Hopeful, 2min. 164?ec. ; trotting to wsggon, drawing 2Qoolr>s., Mountain Maid, 3min. 42£eec, 20 years ago ; trotting under saddle, Great Eastern, 2tnin. lofseo. ; trotting double team, Mary Cobb and Neta Medium, 2min. lSJsecs. ; trotter with running mate, H. B. Winahip and GabeCase, 2min. 6sec. ; pacing in harness, Johnson (gelding), 2min. 6£sec. ; passing under saddle, Billy Borice, 2min. i4£sec.; pacing to waggon, S weetzer, 2inin. 16£seo. MISCELLANEOUS. Waiuku races are fixed for Friday, March 27. The English Derby is this year to be run on June 3. The Liverpool Grand National Steeplechase is set down for decision on the 27th instant. Neither Wapiti or Lady Emma were ever dangerous during the running of the Dunedio Cap. The weights tor the Henderson's Mill Cap and Hurdle Race will be declared on Monday next. Mr. G. Bate contradicts the statement that he intended making Wellington his headquarters. What gamblers we are getting! £37,000 just passed through the totalisator at the recent Danedin Meeting. Mr. W. Keleo'a well-known gelding Bryan O'Lynn broke both his forelegs through a fall at Hand wick recently, and was shot. Fueileer, the three-year-old son of Musket and Yatterina, won the Wanganui Derby and Siakei Handicap on Thnrs'day last. Bargo's withdrawal from all engagements atthoV.R.C. Meeting was caused through his having struck his leg while galloping. 1 am glad to state tbe Otahuhu Racing Club find a surplus of about £50 after discharging all liabilities over their recent meeting.

The Victorian penciller, Mr. Morris Jacobs, laid £4000 to £200 in one pop against Coronet, the winner of the Newmarket Handicap. The Musket—Wai-tti colt, for whom Mr. P. Butler gave 500 guineas just prior to the C J.C. Spring Meeting, has passed into Mr. R. Ray'a hands. The four-year-old Waverley, by St. Albans from Miss Jackson, who has been performing so well in Tasmania, had 700 guineas refused for him a few days ago.

The tot&lisator was worked at the recent Tasmanian meeting for the first time, but owing to the machine not registering correctly it was not very favourably received. Coronet who won the Newmarket Handicap on Saturday last was ridden by Sammy Cracknell, who steered Sir J. Elder's Tyropean to victory in the same race in 18S3. From the entries for the Bawke's Bay Meeting, I notice that the full brother to Krupp, who has passed into the bauds of Percy Martin, is engaged in the Nursery P late.

"Robin Hood's " programme on the Danedin Cap filled with 7125 subscribers, being 1125 over the advertised number— 6000. He has now one open on the C.J.C. Autumn Handicap. Mr. Pilbrow supported Welcome Jack for the Newmarket Handicap to win £15,000 at IOOO's to 30. He was to be ridden by J. C. Ivemy, who steered Malua to victory in the same race last year. The two dogs that divided the stakes in the Waterloo Cap this year were both by the same sire, Paris. They were owned and bred as follows :—Mr. J. Hinka' Miss Glendine, by Paris—Lady Glendine.; Mr. E. Dent's Bit of Fashion, by Paris—Pretty NelL

The Tasmanian steeplechasers Merven (by Horatio from a Lord of Linne mare) and Colebrook (by Horatio from Sybil) were purchased by the Victorian sportsman Mr. M. Loughlin, tbe prices paid being £400 and £300 repeotively. The Morphettville racecourse was offered for ■ le recently, together with the grand stand and other fixtures. The auctioneer deolared that every sportsman acknowledged the C'rse to be the best [and most suitable in the colonies, and stated that the club had spent nearly £10,000 on improvements. Not a single bid, however, Vμ secured, and the property was w'*hdrawrk- i Wai races are to bef held on the 20th of March. )